The team has not yet made an announcement on the move. The deal is reportedly a six-month loan, so it would not definitely signal the end of the Montero era in Seattle, but the loan also reportedly includes a $4.5 million purchase option, and it’s hard to imagine the Sounders would be willing to loan Montero out for that much of the season if they saw him as part of their 2013 plans.

Montero’s departure would free up a designated player spot if Seattle wanted to go after another big-name signing.

Montero has been a success in his four seasons in Seattle, scoring a club best 47 goals in league play, but he also has been shut out in four playoff appearances, and it was rather telling that he was pulled from Seattle’s final playoff game with the Sounders needing two goals to keep their season alive. And last season Montero was overshadowed a bit by fellow forward Eddie Johnson, who in his first season with Seattle established a club record with 14 goals.